Rams ‘optimistic’ they will sign Cobblers star Jacobs

DERBY COUNTY chief executive Tom Glick says he is ‘optimistic’ that the Rams will sign Cobblers midfielder Michael Jacobs this summer.

Jacobs’ contract at Sixfields expires at the end of this month, and the club’s player of the year for the past two seasons has turned down the offer of a new deal to stay with Town.

The Rams are keen to land the wide midfielder, with manager Nigel Clough publicly declaring his interest, but will have to pay the Cobblers compensation as the player is under the age of 24.

If the two clubs cannot strike a deal, the amount could be set by an independent tribunal.

Cobblers chairman David Cardoza has stated there are other clubs in the running to snap up the 20-year-old, while manager Aidy Boothroyd has declared he feels clubs will wait the until the last moment to make their bids, but the Rams remain optimistic about their chances.

“He (Jacobs) continues to be a player we are interested in and if we could bring Michael to Derby, that would be great and we’re certainly hopeful that we can achieve that,” said chief executive Glick.

“We feel we have the situation under control and we’re optimistic about our ability to reach a positive conclusion.

“We’re in touch with Northampton, yes, and we’ll just have to wait and see how things evolve.

“It’s too early to talk about anything like a tribunal at this stage.”